Fishing at WISP a scenic, exciting getaway

May 31, 2009

It's like Alan Jackson sings, "I wanna have fun. It's time for a good time." A good time is to be had at the old fishing hole, except this fishing hole is miles and miles of rustic river that pulls on the fisherman's and fisherwoman's heartline and fly line. The weather that found me on the water was sunny and warm. Actually, it was great. The incredible scenic setting is the icing on the cake. The fishing in Garrett County, Md., is the cake.

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The Place

Article Photos

Deep Creek Lake, a beautiful mountain setting in Swanton, Md., probably is well-known to most readers. The 3,000-acre WISP Resort is located in nearby McHenry, Md., overlooking Deep Creek Lake, the largest inland fresh water lake in Maryland. The lake, with 65 miles of shoreline and 3,900 acres of water, is 15 minutes off Interstate 68, 180 miles west of Washington, D.C., and 106 miles east of Pittsburgh. WISP is Maryland's only four-season resort.

WISP Outdoors, housed on the WISP Resort property, is the only Orvis Sporting Traditions-endorsed outfitter in Maryland and hosts some of the best fly-fishing in the country. It yields access and professional guidance to the mountains of Western Maryland, where you can fish the river waters of the Savage, the North Branch of the Potomac, Youghiogheny and Casselman for your choice of the rainbow, golden, brown, brook and cutthroat trout lurking there. In fact, Garrett County claims all Maryland state records for trout. What are these productive rivers like?

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The Rivers

North Branch of the Potomac River: A high-quality trout stream now is found upstream of Jennings Randolph Lake. The stream is a major reclamation project from acid mine draining and still has several lime "doser" machines, installed in 1993, which add lime to neutralize the continuing acid drainage. The process was effective enough to allow fish to survive since 1994, and then trout stocking began. Currently, about 14 miles are stocked for put-and-take harvest while seven miles utilize delayed harvest fishing. This upper North Branch yields trout fishing in a wild setting with much of the isolated water available only to the hiker.

The tailwater area, downstream of Jennings Randolph Lake is influenced by quality water releases by the Army Corps of Engineers, allowing for stocking since the 1980s. Fish can be caught on put and take and catch and release, with several thousand trout being stocked annually. Natural wild brook and brown trout are found, with some spawning by rainbow trout. Solitude also is found here.

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Casselman River

This water is a rather wide host of several fish habitats - deep runs, riffles, large deep holes and an occasional pocket. Mostly small river rock allows for good wading in sharp contrast to other nearby spots. Checking water flow is an important consideration - flows of less than 150 cfs rate good fishing. This water is stocked with adult-hatchery brown and rainbow trout each spring and fall for delayed-harvest trout fishing, utilizing a catch-and-release season from Oct. 1 through June 15 for artificial flies and lures only. Two trout per day can be taken from June 16 through Sept. 30 with no bait or tackle restrictions.

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Savage River

While parts of Savage River Tailwater are in the Savage River State Forest, many access points are on private property, so permission is important to secure for such locations. This tail water was born with the completion of the Savage River Reservoir Dam in 1952. This area is saturated with natural river and shore beauty. The river is about 55 feet wide with a moderate to steep slope. Boulders and cobble provide good pockets for trout. Deep pools and slippery algae growth on rocks can make wading a challenge. Either felt or studded-sole waders are a necessity. Flows are determined by release from the dam and are best from 50 to 100 cfs.

In 1982, the state natural resources department documented a naturally reproducing brook trout population that grew from put-and-take stocking to wild trout management in 1987, ultimately being so successful that the entire four-mile tailwater was no longer stocked by 1991 and was totally a wild trophy trout fishery. This water is tops for brook and brown trout abundance in a natural, wild environment. One fish survey (2002) yielded estimates of 1,000 wild mixed-species adult trout per mile, with about 150 brown trout larger than 12 inches per mile and 37 brook trout larger than 9 inches per mile.

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Youghiogheny River

The Yough was established in 1976 as Maryland's first "Wild and Scenic River." It survived and has recovered from a major fishkill in 1929. The Catch and Release Trout Fishing Area is a four-mile stretch going from the Deep Creek Lake Power Plant and ending at the Sang Run Bridge. Coldwater releases for trout habitat result in sudden river flow rises, so pro-actively securing flow release information is important. Call (814) 533-8911 for details. The river averages 150 feet in width with a low to moderate grade having riffles, long runs, and intermittent deep pools over a bed of cobble, boulders and occasional limestone bedrock.

Brown and "warmwater" rainbow trout are stocked annually, the browns reaching trophy size, some larger than 5 pounds. Estimates today are of 1,300 adult trout per mile with 158 per mile being larger 12 inches long. Only artificial lures and flies can be used. Those catching smallmouth bass on light trout tackle especially will have a good time.

The River Guides

Put that geographic river setting with quality fishing guides - such as Lead Guide, P. J. Daly, (who declares that these fisheries are world class) - with the dozens of high-quality brook trout streams, and you are set for a great experience. Daly described how the state of Maryland manages its water aggressively for fishing improvement. He states that Upper Savage stocks goldens, browns and rainbows. There is a zero-creel limit on brook, in order to protect them. The Lower Savage, according to Daly, "is a blue- ribbon trout stream that is not stocked and has browns and brooks mainly."

He added, "It has great hatches. The browns like dry flies."

The North Branch of the Potomac "is a little dirtier but is clean and has especially large fish all the way to the Chesapeake Bay," Daly said. "The Yough, which flows south to north on the other side of the Continental Divide, has rainbows and browns that like caddis fly nymph and pupae off the bottom."

The Casselman River is a good fishing experience for all skill levels. It is easy to wade and is a "crowd-pleaser water," said Daly, who seems to never tire of talking about all waters. His enthusiasm is contagious.

All streams are public and are pure fun. Both Daly and fellow Guide Ken Pavol are experienced oarsmen as well, making a float trip on the North Branch of the Potomac especially enjoyable. They maneuvered the boat over low water, while indicating good casting spots, which have historically produced a catch. Pavol also is good at removing trees one might catch or the occasional hooked rock as well. He also possesses keen skill with backlashes. But, it was noted that he kept mumbling something under his breath in the process. Probably just his way of encouraging the fish to bite.

On the float trip, I just drifted along, savoring the moment and trying not to worry the fish, or myself, too much, but enjoying the frequent tight lines. Before I knew it, the dinner bell rang and a tasty lunch was produced. I especially appreciated the attention Pavol and Daly gave to "leave no trace," as they saw to it that all paper and plastic was picked up and packed up.

So I've shown my hand and let you know that my favorite was the guided float trip on the North Branch of the Potomac with guide, Pavol, a retired biologist, who knows well these waters and authored much of the DNR Web site information about the area, numerous times pointing out where the fish were. Pointing my fishing rod the same direction produced strong, lively catches. Pavol also guides those more interested in light-tackle angling for trout or bass. Pavol can be reached at (301) 387-5314, by cell at (240) 321-1495 or by e-mail at kenpavol@pennswoods.net. Daly is available at WISP Outdoors as WISP Resort at (301)387-4911 Ext. 2116, or by links at www.wispresort.com.

I thought Daly was exaggerating when he said, "This is the best fly-fishing in the country." Daly, Pavol and the waters around WISP have my vote. They all take the cake.

- Branson E. Dunn is an outdoor/travel photojournalist. Log on to www.journal-news.net to see photos that accompany this article.